The Fertilizer Institute Hails House Passage of Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization Act
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) commended members of the United States House of Representatives for passage today of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act of 2015 (S. 808). S. 808 will promote greater competition between railroads and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). The bill now goes to the White House, and is expected to be signed into law.
“Railroads are an essential link in the fertilizer distribution chain, and S. 808 takes steps to ensure that the STB operates with more speed and efficiency,” said TFI President Chris Jahn. “We extend our sincere thanks to Sens. Thune and Nelson and Congressmen Shuster and DeFazio for their leadership. The rail transportation marketplace has changed a great deal over the past twenty years, and S. 808 is a significant step to better reflect this new reality. We look forward to working with the STB and Congressional leaders to ensure the U.S. freight rail transportation system continues to be the best in the world."
Fertilizers make it possible for farmers to grow enough food to feed the world’s 7.2 billion people. Research has confirmed that 40-60 percent of crop yields are attributable to commercial fertilizers nutrient input. Here in the United States, the delivery of fertilizer in a timely manner is critical to farmers. There is only a narrow window of opportunity to apply the right fertilizer source, at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place. If farmers do not receive their fertilizer in a timely manner, there are potential consequences for food security and the environment.
The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) is the leading voice of the nation’s fertilizer industry. TFI’s membership includes fertilizer producers, wholesalers, retailers and trading firms. TFI’s full-time staff, based in Washington, D.C., serves its members through legislative, educational, technical, economic information and public communication programs. Find more information about TFI online at TFI.org and follow us on Twitter at @Fertilizer_Inst. Learn more about TFI’s nutrient stewardship initiatives at nutrientstewardship.org and on Twitter at @4rnutrients.